How do I sort out the specs?
When evaluating printers, the first thing you're likely to see is a long list of specifications chock-full of acronyms such as dpi and ppm. Not only are all these specs confusing, they often have little or no bearing on the performance you'll actually get in the real world. Here's how to keep it all straight.
Resolution
One of the most widely used specifications, the resolution refers to the maximum number of dots per inch (dpi) that can be printed, measured both horizontally and vertically. For example, a 600x600dpi laser printer lays down a one-inch square composed of 600 dots across by 600 dots down. In theory, a printer with a higher resolution is capable of producing more-detailed text and images, as seen in this representation:
However, manufacturers have inflated the numbers for marketing purposes, and the numbers no longer correlate directly with higher image quality. The number of colours, the types of ink or toner, and the method by which they are transferred to the paper, as well as the paper that's used all have a major impact on image quality.
Print speeds
This spec measures how many pages per minute (ppm) a printer spits out. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Unfortunately, it's not so simple. To come up with the fastest-possible speeds, some manufacturers test using basic text documents at the lowest-quality print settings (Draft mode) on plain paper--not exactly a real-world test. Based on our experience, you can expect to see about half the speed promised by the manufacturer.
Connectivity
The USB (Universal Serial Bus) is truly universal--all printers have either a USB 1.1 or the newer, faster USB 2.0 port. Don't worry too much if your system doesn't have USB 2.0--the two standards get along just fine, and USB 1.1 is fast enough for printing. Mac users can instead opt for FireWire (IEEE 1394) on some models. But if you want to go old school, you'll still find plenty of printers that accept those big, 25-pin parallel cables. Workgroup printers also support printing over a network using a standard Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector. For even better mobility, many models support printing wirelessly, using infrared, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi access points with built-in print servers.
Processor and memory
Nearly all manufacturers provide information on the processor and the memory, but at least for personal use, these specs are relatively unimportant. Your computer does a fine job, largely on its own, of lining up print jobs and sending them on to be printed. If you have multiple users or you often print high-resolution photos or other large files, however, then you'll want a printer with a faster processor and more onboard memory.
Paper handling
The typical paper-handling specs on a printer include everything from the size and thickness of various paper to the standard and optional input- and output-tray capacity. It's enough to make your head spin. As a general rule, all inkjets and personal laser printers will print on standard paper (letter and legal sizes), accept envelopes, and have input and output trays that hold at least 100 sheets. The only exceptions are specialized printers such as snapshot and portable models. More advanced paper-handling features--such as tabloid-size printing, duplexing (printing on both sides), and auto document feeders for faxing and copying--will be found on only higher-end models.
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Great site....I've learnt heaps, still not sure whcih printer to go with but am far more informed thaks to you. Well done & thankyou